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Toronto Maple Leafs: Ideal Lineup Once William Nylander Returns

By Michael Mazzei

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 07: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs reacts to the crowd after the Leafs scored against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on October 7, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 07: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs reacts to the crowd after the Leafs scored against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on October 7, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 15: Toronto Maple Leafs Defenceman Morgan Rielly (44) puts the brakes on during the NHL regular season game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 15, 2018, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photograph by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 15: Toronto Maple Leafs Defenceman Morgan Rielly (44) puts the brakes on during the NHL regular season game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 15, 2018, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photograph by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Defence

Morgan Rielly – Travis Dermott 

Jake Gardiner – Nikita Zaitsev

Ron Hainsey – Igor Ozhiganov

Martin Marincin – Justin Holl

Before I begin, I want to point out that these pairings are what I think they should look like by seasons’ end. Tom me, seeing Dermott on the top pairing sounds so enticing.

Rielly has proven to be the Leafs’ number one defender and I do think that getting a player like Dermott on his pairing will only make the former much better. Dermott is too good for the third pairing and is more than ready for tougher assignments, which I see him getting.

While the results have yet to materialize, the Gardiner-Zaitsev pairing should remain as is going forward because it can be an effective one. Both players are off to slow starts, which can happen, but both provide value and each are bound to get back on track sooner rather than later.

Hainsey on the third pairing makes sense if the Leafs insist on continuing to play him at all.. It’s been well-documented by our team here that Hainsey isn’t a top pairing defender and needs a lighter role to be effective. His minutes have to be reduced at some point and doing so could go a long way once the playoffs come around.

I really like the way Ozhiganov has been playing this year and think he should be getting the majority of the ice time on the third pairing. Ian Tulloch of The Atheltic wrote an excellent piece breaking down his game and highlights the value he brings to the team. He has been effective while under the radar, which is good to see.

That leaves Marincin and Holl as the extras, which makes the most sense. I do want to see them get some more game action so the Leafs can see what they have in them. The last thing this team needs is another situation like Leivo’s from a year ago.

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